Terps fall apart in second half in Pittsburgh

Dez Wells struggled again and the Terps dropped their first ACC game of the season.

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Maryland Terrapins let a close game get out of hand in the second half in a 79-59 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Maryland and Pittsburgh saw the lead swing back and forth for much of the first half before the Panthers started to take control in the final three minutes before halftime.

The second half was all Pittsburgh. Everything the Panthers threw up at the basket seemed to go in, though Maryland's weak defensive effort had more than a hand in that.

Until the Terps commit to playing strong defense in the half-court on a consistent basis, they are going to struggle to be a team worthy of the NCAA tournament.

The offensive performance wasn't much better in the second half, either. Dez Wells struggled throughout the night and Maryland starters accounted for just 16 points.

Roddy Peters seemed to struggle with the physical play and higher level of competition, something he certainly didn't see against Georgia Tech's guards. It will be a good learning experience for Peters, who will likely lose his starting job to Seth Allen in the very near future.

It was a tough turnaround for the Terps, who had to travel to Pittsburgh just two days after their previous ACC contest. That can be considered a nice little going away present from the ACC.

Maryland has a chance to bounce back this weekend with another road game, this time in Tallahassee. The Terps will then host Notre Dame, so there are plenty of quality wins remaining on the schedule.

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Steve DeClue has always had a passion for Baltimore-area sports. He covered the Baltimore Ravens for Baltimoresun.com and Scout.com. If you are looking for your fix on sports around the Beltway, Steve's your man. You may contact Steve with your comments and questions.